Leave Sydney early and head south along the Princes Highway with a scenic detour to Bundeena and Royal National Park for a short walk to the coastal cliff overlooks and a coffee at the village café. Continue via the Sea Cliff Bridge with a stroll across the iconic Sea Cliff Bridge and a photo stop, then stretch your legs at Austinmer Beach before resuming the drive-perfect for a fresh-air start and seaside snacks en route to Batemans Bay.
After the Sea Cliff Bridge and Austinmer stretch, continue south with a relaxed lunch stop at Scarborough Hotel or the seaside kiosk at Coalcliff before exploring the dramatic coastal cliffs at Bald Hill Lookout for hang-glider views and quick photos. In the late afternoon take a scenic detour through Berry for boutique shopping and artisanal treats, then drive on via the Princes Highway with a short wander around Kiama Blowhole to feel the spray before arriving in Batemans Bay for sunset and dinner.
Arrive in Batemans Bay and unwind with a riverside stroll along Marina Park before settling into dinner at Sam's Waterfront for fresh oysters and local seafood with Clyde River views. After dinner, take a twilight walk to Batemans Bay Foreshore to watch lights reflect on the water, then finish the night with a drink at The Wharf Bar & Restaurant or a quiet return to your accommodation-options include boutique stays at The Sebel Batemans Bay or riverside camping at Paradise Beach Holiday Park if you prefer sleeping to the sound of waves.
Start the day with a sunrise walk and birdwatching at Durras North Beach, then wander the tidal rock pools at Durras Head for dramatic coastal scenery and easy wildlife spotting. After the walk, drive back toward town for a hearty breakfast of local fare at The Mussel Pot Café before renting kayaks at Batemans Bay Paddle & Hire to explore the Clyde River estuary and secret mangrove channels as the town wakes up.
After a morning on the Clyde River, head to the sandy curves of Malua Bay Beach for sun, surf and a relaxed swim, then stroll the headland to Murrays Beach for quieter rock platforms and excellent shell collecting. Late afternoon, take a short drive to Rosedale for a scenic picnic at Rosedale Headland Reserve, followed by a visit to Anchorage Café for locally sourced seafood plates and a glass of wine as the light softens over the bay.
As the sun dips, enjoy a seafood-forward dinner at Sam's Waterfront Bistro & Oyster Bar (if you didn't on arrival) or try the locals' pick Pier 33 Restaurant for Clyde River views and a plate of freshly shucked oysters. After dinner, take a relaxed sunset stroll along Corrigans Beach Boardwalk to watch anglers and pelicans, then finish with a nightcap at The Sandbar Café & Lounge or a peaceful riverside bench at Mariner's Lookout to let the day settle.
Head inland from Batemans Bay for a charming morning in Mogo Village, where you can browse artisan galleries and enjoy a strong coffee at Mogo Café before the crowds arrive; followed by a short drive to Mogo State Forest for a refreshing bushwalk among eucalypts and wildflowers, keeping an eye out for wallabies. Continue to the coast-side trails at Broulee Island Nature Reserve for tidal rockpool exploration and panoramic views from the headland-perfect for photos and a packed picnic breakfast while the light is soft.
After a morning in Mogo and the forest, drive to the coast for an easy afternoon at Depot Beach, where you can swim in calm surf, explore the sheltered lagoon and picnic beneath the paperbark trees; keep an eye out for swamp wallabies at the dunes. Then head to Dolphin Point for late-afternoon whale or dolphin spotting from the headland and finish with a short sunset walk along the cliff track to Pebbly Beach Lookout to watch kangaroos grazing on the shoreline as the light fades.
As twilight falls, unwind with a riverside dinner at The Wharf at Narooma sampling local flathead and a platter of shellfish while watching the Clyde's estuary lights; afterwards take a gentle after-dinner stroll along Narooma Boardwalk to the glassy lookout for a peaceful sunset reflection. If you prefer a wilder close to day, head to Montague Island Marine Park departure points for a dusk seal- and sea-bird cruise (book ahead) or settle into a campfire evening at Durras East Campground with marshmallow toasting and star-spotting over the coastal pines.
Wake to the hush of coastal forest with a sunrise stroll along the dunes at Meerwong Beach, then head to the nearby Depot Beach lagoon for birdwatching and a gentle swim in sheltered waters; pack a thermos and breakfast to enjoy beneath the paperbarks. Afterward, launch from Morgans Lookout boat ramp for a guided estuary paddle toward the Clyde River mouth, where you can explore mangrove channels and search for oyster beds before returning to town for a mid-morning seafood tasting at a local oyster farmer's stall.
Spend a relaxed afternoon exploring the rocky headlands at Durras North Headland with a scenic cliff walk that drops into secluded coves for snorkelling and tidepooling, then drive to Murramarang National Park lookout for panoramic coastal views and a short boardwalk through coastal heath. Later, join a guided oyster- and seafood-tasting cruise from Clyde River Oyster Co. to sample fresh produce straight from the water while cruising past estuary islands, finishing with a riverside late-afternoon pint at The Waterfront Bar & Grill as the sun softens over the Clyde.
As the light softens, drive to Tomakin Headland for a short sunset walk along the coastal track, then settle at The Fish Co. Tomakin for a laid-back dinner of locally caught snapper and beer-battered flathead while watching boats slip by. After dinner, take a twilight cruise with Clyde River Cruises for quiet estuary spotlighting of nocturnal birdlife and bioluminescence patches, or return to camp under the stars at Tomakin Holiday Park for a beachside fire and the sound of waves.
Leave Batemans Bay after an early breakfast and detour north to Moruya River Lookout for a last stretch and panoramic estuary views, then explore the tidal rock platforms at Broulee Headland for morning birdlife and quiet coastal photography. Continue up the coast with a coastal-walk coffee stop at Batemans Bay's Burrewarra Point Reserve-perfect for a short seabird- and dolphin-spotting stroll-before heading inland toward Sydney with refreshed snacks from Mogo Village Bakery to fuel the drive home.
Before the drive north, linger for a leisurely lunch and waterfront stroll at Tomakin Rockpool Reserve where tidal swims and a shaded picnic under paperbarks set a relaxed pace for the road. Continue with a scenic coastal detour to Murramarang National Park - Pretty Beach Lookout for a short cliff-top walk and kangaroo sightings, then stop at Kioloa Village for afternoon tea and local treats before rejoining the Princes Highway toward Sydney.
On the homeward stretch, pause for a golden-hour walk along Bawley Point Beach to stretch legs and watch longboarders carve the last waves before dusk, then enjoy a casual seafood dinner at the harbor-front Bawley Point Store & Café for locally caught sashimi and chips. Finish the night with a slow coastal drive-through Guerilla Bay lookout for a final ocean panorama and a short stargazing stop at Pebbly Beach Picnic Area before continuing back to Sydney, carrying the coastal calm and oyster-sweet memories from the trip.
| Place / Activity | Cost |
|---|---|
| Bundeena & Royal National Park coastal walks | Free |
| Coffee at Bundeena village café | $6 |
| Sea Cliff Bridge stroll | Free |
| Austinmer Beach visit | Free |
| Lunch at Scarborough Hotel | $25 |
| Coalcliff seaside kiosk snacks | $10 |
| Bald Hill Lookout (hang-glider viewing) | Free |
| Berry boutique shopping detour | $20 |
| Kiama Blowhole visit | Free |
| Marina Park riverside stroll (Batemans Bay) | Free |
| Dinner at Sam's Waterfront / Sam's Waterfront Bistro & Oyster Bar | $45 |
| Batemans Bay Foreshore walk | Free |
| The Wharf Bar & Restaurant (drink) | $12 |
| The Sebel Batemans Bay (boutique stay per night estimate, per person double) | $120 |
| Paradise Beach Holiday Park (riverside camping per person/night estimate) | $25 |
| Sunrise walk & birdwatching at Durras North Beach | Free |
| Durras Head tidal rock pools | Free |
| Breakfast at The Mussel Pot Café | $18 |
| Kayak rental - Batemans Bay Paddle & Hire | $45 |
| Malua Bay Beach visit | Free |
| Murrays Beach visit (shell collecting) | Free |
| Rosedale Headland Reserve picnic | Free |
| Anchorage Café (seafood & wine) | $30 |
| Pier 33 Restaurant (dinner & oysters) | $40 |
| Corrigans Beach Boardwalk sunset stroll | Free |
| The Sandbar Café & Lounge (nightcap) | $10 |
| Mogo Village (artisan galleries & coffee) | $10 |
| Coffee at Mogo Café | $6 |
| Mogo State Forest bushwalk | Free |
| Broulee Island Nature Reserve tidal rockpool exploration | Free |
| Depot Beach (swim & picnic) | Free |
| Dolphin Point (wildlife spotting) | Free |
| Pebbly Beach Lookout (kangaroo spotting) | Free |
| The Wharf at Narooma (riverside dinner) | $35 |
| Narooma Boardwalk sunset stroll | Free |
| Montague Island Marine Park dusk cruise (seal/sea-bird cruise) - approximate per person (book ahead) | $80 |
| Durras East Campground (camping per person/night estimate) | $20 |
| Meerwong Beach sunrise stroll | Free |
| Depot Beach lagoon birdwatching & swim | Free |
| Guided estuary paddle from Morgans Lookout boat ramp (guided launch / small group) estimate | $60 |
| Local oyster farmer's stall tasting (sampling) | $15 |
| Durras North Headland cliff walk & snorkel | Free |
| Murramarang National Park lookout boardwalk | Free |
| Clyde River Oyster Co. tasting cruise | $75 |
| The Waterfront Bar & Grill (late-afternoon pint) | $10 |
| Tomakin Headland sunset walk | Free |
| The Fish Co. Tomakin (dinner) | $30 |
| Clyde River Cruises twilight/spotlight cruise (estuary night cruise) | $65 |
| Tomakin Holiday Park (camping per person/night estimate) | $25 |
| Moruya River Lookout visit | Free |
| Broulee Headland birdlife photography | Free |
| Burrewarra Point Reserve (dolphin spotting) | Free |
| Mogo Village Bakery snacks | $8 |
| Tomakin Rockpool Reserve lunch & tidal swims | Free |
| Murramarang National Park - Pretty Beach Lookout | Free |
| Kioloa Village (afternoon tea) | $8 |
| Bawley Point Beach golden-hour walk | Free |
| Bawley Point Store & Café (seafood dinner) | $30 |
| Guerilla Bay lookout stargazing stop | Free |
| Pebbly Beach Picnic Area stargazing | Free |
| Estimated Total (per person) | $1456 |